Travis Hunter defends fiancé Leanna Lenee after internet users criticize her Heisman ceremony reaction
While standout Colorado Buffaloes football player Travis Hunter won the Heisman trophy over the weekend, fans and social media users have taken interest in his fiancé's reaction during the prestigious ceremony.
As Hunter's name was called Saturday night at the Lincoln Center in New York, his fiancé, 23-year-old Leanna Lenee, remained seated until the 21-year-old's coach, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, tapped her on the shoulder.
Lenee's seeming lack of response for Hunter's achievement led to fans criticizing her on social media.
On Monday, Lenee shared an 8-minute-long TikTok video addressing the situation, saying, "I'm tired emotionally and mentally of seeing people try to make me out to be a person that I am not."
Here is what to know about the controversy surrounding Hunter and his bride-to-be.
Leanna Lenee criticizes people 'accepting what they see online'
In the TikTok video, Lenee explains what she described as the misconceptions being spread about her and Hunter's relationship, including the situation in which they met.
"Bird brain individuals are accepting what they see online," Lenee said in response to social media users who have commented negatively about her and Hunter's relationship.
Lenee also addressed what happened at the Heisman ceremony, saying, "This is making me so mad because anyone who knows me knows I support Travis in every win and everything he does because I truly truly love that man."
When Hunter's name was called, Lenee said she was going to get up but her fiancé's mother did not get up. She also said Sanders told her to "go get him" and not to "get up."
"As soon as I seen Travis get up then I thought it was appropriate to stand up, greet him (and) congratulate him," Lenee said. "Everyone is making (these) crazy crazy narratives in their heads."
Travis Hunter defends fiancé Leanna Lenee
Hunter appeared on the streaming platform Twitch on Monday and defended Lenee, who he said was crying herself to sleep over comments made by internet users.
"You know the hurt when you just cry yourself to sleep," Hunter said during his Twitch stream.
Hunter also told "clickbait pages" they "better stop" posting content that alleges issues in the couple's relationship or "something bad gonna happen."
"I know what I got. I know my girl. My girl's been with me for five years," Hunter said during the stream. "Y'all are just now starting to talk about me and just now starting to be with me. Come on, man."
Travis Hunter is a projected top NFL draft pick
Hunter is widely considered to be one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While at Colorado and Jackson State, Hunter played both wide receiver and cornerback. For the 2024 season, he won the Fred Biletnikoff (for the best receiver in college football) and Chuck Bednarik (for the best defensive player in college football) awards.